The ‘holy grail’ of shipwrecks still lies at the bottom of the ocean, littered with billions of gold and jewels – but the Colombian government has claimed it for itself.
The legendary San Jose galleon, which sank off Colombia’s Caribbean coast more than three centuries ago, is believed to contain $20 billion worth of gold, silver and emeralds.
Colombia has declared the site a ‘protected archaeological area’ and has now launched an undersea expedition to assess the ‘long-term conservation and development of research, conservation and appreciation activities’ needed to secure the historic find.
The first phase of this process will focus on imaging the ship via “non-intrusive” external sensors, the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History said.
The institute added that the results of this research mission could pave the way for future explorations, which could include the recovery of archaeological material from the wreck.
The equipment used to search the remains of the galleon San Jose was submerged nearly 3,000 feet beneath the Colombian Caribbean Sea. It was managed by naval officials
Researchers at the institute explained that they plan to deploy an underwater vessel equipped with sonar-like acoustic positioning technologies, as well as an underwater drone to explore the depths of the site.
“This government is doing something unprecedented,” said Colombian Culture Minister Juan David Correa, “by exploring the sinking of the galleon as an opportunity to understand history and culture.”
The boat, dubbed the ‘Holy Grail’ of shipwrecks because of its abundant treasures, was on its way back from the New World to the court of King Philip V of Spain when it plunged to the bottom of the ocean.
The 62-gun galleon was sailing from Portobelo, Panama at the head of a treasure fleet of fourteen merchant ships and three Spanish warships when it encountered the British squadron near Barú.
The San Jose was a 62-gun galleon that sank on June 8, 1708, with 600 people on board
An intact Chinese set of dishes and other tableware were among the ship’s treasures
In 2015, the Colombian government announced that a team of naval divers had discovered the legendary ship in nearly 3,000 feet of water.
Colombia announced the discovery of the San Jose that same year, but by then it had already attracted the attention of adventurers.
Last year, another team brought back breathtaking images of its perfectly preserved cargo.
The Colombian government previously claimed the ship would be lifted before President Gustavo Petro ends his term in 2026.
However, a major fight looms over who owns the ship, with an American company claiming to have discovered the ship and claiming a share of the treasure.
The Spanish government and an indigenous group also claim ownership of the shipwreck.
Gold coins were also picked up on the video released by the Colombian government
Colombian Culture Minister Juan David Correa said the first attempt would be a “dry run” to retrieve the rest of the treasure and the ship itself
The San Jose galleon was owned by the Spanish crown when it was sunk by the British Navy off Cartagena in 1708, and only 11 of its 600-strong crew survived.
US research firm Glocca Morra claims it found the San Jose in 1981 and handed over the coordinates to the Colombians on the condition that it would receive half the fortune once the ship was recovered.
But the company’s claim was refuted in 2015 by Colombia’s then president, Juan Manuel Santos, who said the navy had found the boat in a different location on the seabed.
Glocca Morra, now called Sea Search Armada, is suing for half of the treasure — about $10 billion according to current estimates — under the U.S.-Colombia trade facilitation deal, according to Bloomberg.
But Colombian Culture Minister Juan David Correa said the government team had visited Sea Search Armada coordinates and found no trace of the San Jose.
Complicating matters are the competing claims of the Spanish – whose navy owned the ship – and the indigenous Bolivian nation of Qhara Qhara, who say the population was forced to mine the gold and jewels so that the treasures could reach their be owned.
Meanwhile, Colombia has hailed the find as a huge historical and cultural achievement.
Correa told Bloomberg: “This is one of the priorities for the Petro government. The president has told us to pick up the pace.”